Kinzie Hansen had a great year this season en route to helping the Sooners win a third straight national championship. She was a key piece in the Sooners finishing the season on a record-setting 53-game winning streak.
The dynamic catcher hit .409 with a .431 on-base percentage, .752 slugging percentage, 55 hits, 13 home runs and 57 RBIs. She was a key cog in the Sooners machine this year and will be a huge piece next season, too.
Hansen is a great all-around player, from her standout offensive stats to her stellar defense behind the plate. She was a first-team All-American and made the NCAA All-Tournament team.
Look who dropped by @news9. All-American @kinziehansen will join me on the Blitz tonight Along w the old ball coach @GassoPatty! Kinzie tells us she’s returning for a FIFTH season w @OUSoftball. Watch us also on @newson6. pic.twitter.com/vtJnKEQ7wj
— Dean Blevins (@DeanBlevins) June 12, 2023
The Sooners’ catcher was clutch throughout the NCAA Tournament. Her three-run home run in the seventh inning against Clemson will go down as one of the most magical moments of all time. In the postseason, she was 14-for-30 with three home runs and 13 RBIs. She had multiple RBIs in five of the Sooners’ 10 games in the NCAA Tournament.
If Hansen wasn’t already the best catcher in college softball, then her coming back for one last season should cement that. Patty Gasso has built a powerhouse of a program, and Hansen has been a massive part of that over these past few years.
With Grace Lyons’ departure, Hansen would make a logical choice to be the next captain of the Oklahoma Sooners. Even if just for one season, her experience and her leadership make her a natural fit to take on the mantle in Lyons’ stead.
Here’s a look at some of the best photos of Kinzie Hansen’s first four seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners.